Laboratory Automation Engineer Review
at AstraZeneca
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Cambridge
Review Submitted: February 2023
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
On a day-to-day basis, support the automation
platforms in the lab to keep them running, and attend to any faults reported. I also code the scripts that
run the automation plate form to improve productivity. I also create CAD designs to be 3D printed to replace broken parts, and create new products and custom pieces to improve the experience of lab users.
platforms in the lab to keep them running, and attend to any faults reported. I also code the scripts that
run the automation plate form to improve productivity. I also create CAD designs to be 3D printed to replace broken parts, and create new products and custom pieces to improve the experience of lab users.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy every aspect of this role, I learn new skills every day which improves my ability to support the
lab users. I am pushed to produce the best work I am capable of, and I am taken out of my comfort
zone to increase my confidence when presenting and working on my own with lab users. I am pushed explore new technologies.
lab users. I am pushed to produce the best work I am capable of, and I am taken out of my comfort
zone to increase my confidence when presenting and working on my own with lab users. I am pushed explore new technologies.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
In this role, I have learned many new skills such as new coding languages, including C# html CSS and
Hamilton (liquid handler). I have also improved my presentation skills through multiple apprentice
training days, in which the company hires external companies to give us the training to improve
necessary life skills. I have also been taught how to support multiple platforms to support the lab
users' needs.
Hamilton (liquid handler). I have also improved my presentation skills through multiple apprentice
training days, in which the company hires external companies to give us the training to improve
necessary life skills. I have also been taught how to support multiple platforms to support the lab
users' needs.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
My program is very well structured, I am given my required 20% off-the-job training each week, to
allow me time to complete my university work and keep on track with my assignments. We are given
training provided by external training companies to give us new skills and improve our existing ones. Universities are still slightly behind the times with their structure of learning however the support I receive from my employer helps with this.
allow me time to complete my university work and keep on track with my assignments. We are given
training provided by external training companies to give us new skills and improve our existing ones. Universities are still slightly behind the times with their structure of learning however the support I receive from my employer helps with this.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I am giving a lot of support from all my colleagues and have one on one meetings with my manager
once a week, but I also work in the same office as my manager so can easily ask him if I need any
extra support if I am struggling with my workload or completing any tasks assigned to me.
once a week, but I also work in the same office as my manager so can easily ask him if I need any
extra support if I am struggling with my workload or completing any tasks assigned to me.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My training provider gives me a lot of support, they have 3-way reviews so that they can make sure
that I’m getting the support I need, that I am up to date with my assignments and that
AstraZeneca is giving me my 20% off-the-job training. My university continued to provide lectures
throughout the pandemic virtually and then face to face again when safe to do so.
that I’m getting the support I need, that I am up to date with my assignments and that
AstraZeneca is giving me my 20% off-the-job training. My university continued to provide lectures
throughout the pandemic virtually and then face to face again when safe to do so.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification has taught me vital skills that improved my ability to perform my job, such as
teaching me C#, HTML and CSS, this had allowed me to create custom applications to rearrange data to create
worklists for automation platforms to run from. They are also currently teaching me about database
creation which I can definitely see being useful in the future in my job role.
teaching me C#, HTML and CSS, this had allowed me to create custom applications to rearrange data to create
worklists for automation platforms to run from. They are also currently teaching me about database
creation which I can definitely see being useful in the future in my job role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
AstraZeneca sets up lots of events for apprentices and other employees to socialize, Many of these
events face-to-face to help socialize with other apprentices, these events range from bowling and other active events to National apprenticeship weeks giving us the ability to gain insight on other courses and their day to day job
events face-to-face to help socialize with other apprentices, these events range from bowling and other active events to National apprenticeship weeks giving us the ability to gain insight on other courses and their day to day job
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
AstraZeneca is a great place to work, it has a very supportive environment, and is a great place to
experience a working environment for the first time. They pair their roles with great university
courses so that you are both learning key and useful skills at both your university and when at work.
experience a working environment for the first time. They pair their roles with great university
courses so that you are both learning key and useful skills at both your university and when at work.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Since working at AstraZeneca I have learnt that they want their employees to follow their corporate
values and bare them in mind while working the day to day job, so I would recommend that they go
to the AstraZeneca website and note these values, and see if they would be able to follow them.
values and bare them in mind while working the day to day job, so I would recommend that they go
to the AstraZeneca website and note these values, and see if they would be able to follow them.
